Jitesh Sharma To Leave Vidarbha, Set To Join RCB's Teammate's Side: Report
Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma is set to part ways with Vidarbha after representing the team in domestic cricket for more than a decade. He will turn up for Baroda in the upcoming season. The 31-year-old didn't play a single Ranji Trophy match in 2024-25, warming the bench behind Vidarbha skipper and first-choice keeper Akshay Wadkar.
Though he remained in their white-ball squads under Karun Nair, opportunities in red-ball cricket dried up. According to ESPN Cricinfo, the move to Baroda had been in the works for a while, and his good rapport with Baroda captain Krunal Pandya played a role in facilitating the transfer. Both of them won a maiden IPL title for Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier this year.
The shift is expected to open the door for Jitesh to revive his red-ball career. Since debuting for Vidarbha in 2015-16, the keeper-batter has played just 18 first-class matches, averaging 24.48 with four fifties. His last red-ball appearance came nearly 18 months ago.
Jitesh has, however, made a name for himself in the shorter formats. After a breakthrough IPL with Punjab Kings in 2023, he earned his India T20I cap during the Asian Games later that year. He has featured in nine T20Is so far. He played a crucial role for RCB as a finisher in IPL 2025 and also step into the captain's shoes when Rajat Patidar got injured.
The report further stated that Swapnil Singh, Jitesh's RCB teammate, is also on the move. The spin-bowling all-rounder is set to join Tripura ahead of the new season.
Swapnil, who was RCB's only RTM pick at the mega auction, didn't get a game in IPL 2025. He last played domestic cricket for Uttarakhand, taking 18 wickets in five Ranji matches in 2024-25. His white-ball form, though, remained modest.
A regular in Chennai's club circuit, Swapnil most recently played for Chepauk Super Gillies in TNPL 2025, picking up three wickets and scoring 85 runs across eight matches.
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